Workstand

mrb123

I'm looking for a workstand to use for general bike maintenance tasks and also bike cleaning.

The ones that mount via the front dropouts and bottom bracket look pretty good, but am I right in thinking that they are no use for bikes with mudguards fitted as presumably the front guard will extend lower than the dropouts?

If that's the case, then presumably I'm looking at the kind that clamp the seatpost/top tube. Any recommendations? I'm not looking to spend a huge amount, maybe £50 but could go a bit higher for a quality product.

paulbnix

I have 2 workstands.

The first was from Aldi (or it might have been Lidl).
Its steel (ie heavy) and the clamps are all the screw in type.
They seem to take forever to adjust and can slip.
This is especially relevant to the clamp that attempts to hold the bike at an angle.
You have to do this if you clamp the seat post.
Its now relegated to bike washing duties.

The other is from Planet X http://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/TOJWSWS/jo ... -workstand
I got it for £39 in one of their regular sales.
Its mainly aluminium and uses quick releases and rotating head.
It is so much easier to setup and work on the bike with.

Unclemonty121

I had a Lidl one which cost about £20, always slipped and was just OK, to do things. The bracket died, so got one from halfords (currently £40, but paid about £30). It uses QR's and is light and day to the Lidl one.

Worth paying just a little more in my experience, otherwise it just gets frustrating.

g00se

MrB123 wrote:

I'm looking for a workstand to use for general bike maintenance tasks and also bike cleaning.

The ones that mount via the front dropouts and bottom bracket look pretty good, but am I right in thinking that they are no use for bikes with mudguards fitted as presumably the front guard will extend lower than the dropouts?
.

Yes, I've got a TACX stand like that and the front mudguards will foul the frame. However, just releasing the guard stays at the fork will allow the guard to twist and drop down the side of the stand.

It's worth getting one if you predominantly work on bikes without guards - or if your pride and joy is carbon with an integrated seat post.

mrb123

Unclemonty121 wrote:

I had a Lidl one which cost about £20, always slipped and was just OK, to do things. The bracket died, so got one from halfords (currently £40, but paid about £30). It uses QR's and is light and day to the Lidl one.

Worth paying just a little more in my experience, otherwise it just gets frustrating.

Is this the one you have now Uncle Monty?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... reId=10001

Grifcp

I have one of these ..
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/feedback-sports-sprint-bicycle-repair-station/

expensive but excellent, I think I paid £155 when ProBikeKit had them on offer. I have no problems
with my winter bike on it which has full length SKS chromoplastic guards, long boards would foul it I expect.
All alloy so won't rust and takes different width dropouts and through axles. Highly recommended.

mrb123

Grifcp wrote:

I have one of these ..
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/feedback-sports-sprint-bicycle-repair-station/

expensive but excellent, I think I paid £155 when ProBikeKit had them on offer. I have no problems
with my winter bike on it which has full length SKS chromoplastic guards, long boards would foul it I expect.
All alloy so won't rust and takes different width dropouts and through axles. Highly recommended.

Looks a nice bit of kit but a bit more than I was looking to pay. I have Chromoplastic mudguards too on the winter bike but looking at the position of them I think they would definitely foul the top bar.

I spotted this one which seems to hold the dropouts a bit above the top bar so might alleviate the problem somewhat although I think at least the mudflaps would still catch.

http://m.probikekit.co.uk/bicycle-tools ... 72499.html

g00se

MrB123 wrote:

Grifcp wrote:

I have one of these ..
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/feedback-sports-sprint-bicycle-repair-station/

expensive but excellent, I think I paid £155 when ProBikeKit had them on offer. I have no problems
with my winter bike on it which has full length SKS chromoplastic guards, long boards would foul it I expect.
All alloy so won't rust and takes different width dropouts and through axles. Highly recommended.

Looks a nice bit of kit but a bit more than I was looking to pay. I have Chromoplastic mudguards too on the winter bike but looking at the position of them I think they would definitely foul the top bar.

I spotted this one which seems to hold the dropouts a bit above the top bar so might alleviate the problem somewhat although I think at least the mudflaps would still catch.

http://m.probikekit.co.uk/bicycle-tools ... 72499.html

That's the one I have. Very good stand. Heavier than the more expensive team stands like the Feedback and the Park ones - but works well. The tripod ones like that can spin around too - you have to work around the Tacx.

But for chromoplastics, you should be able to release the fork stays at the fork mounting and hang it to one side.

mrb123

I'm starting to think that going for a budget option here may well be a false economy and that it might be a better option to buy something that it built to last.

With that in mind, I'm looking at the Tacx 3075 as mentioned above, or the Park Tool PCS 10. Just a question of deciding which style (seatpost clamp v bottom bracket/fork mount) will suit me best.